Disability and Human Rights: An Indian Perspective

Abstract

Disability is an inconvenience rather than a tragedy. According to the United Nations (UN), persons with disabilities (PDWs) are those who are unable to ensure, wholly or partially, the necessities of normal individuals as a result of a deficiency in their physical or mental capacities. To have a disability means that they consistently struggle to complete tasks that other people take for granted. Numerous social factors may influence whether or not people with disabilities participate in different activities, which may have an impact on their growth or self-esteem. Due to restrictions and prejudice, people with disabilities are continually denied the opportunity to participate in society on an equal footing. When a citizen is automatically granted human rights at birth, why is the proclamation of these rights separate for people with disabilities? Persons with disabilities cannot be divided into primary and secondary groups because they are also people. People who are disabled or “differently abled” are entitled to the same human rights as everyone else, including life, liberty, equality, security, and dignity. Disabled people in India, however, continue to be an unseen group due to social indifference, psychological hurdles, a narrow definition of “disability” giving rise to legal protection, and a dearth of accurate statistics. But the disabled are not helpless people. They do not want sympathy and neither to live on others’ mercy. This article examines the current legal status of individuals with disabilities in light of current notions and legislation, however, the researcher contends that changing the vision of society is more likely to result in a solution than changing the law. Essentially, it is not an issue; instead, it is a special ability that these so-called “challenged people” have.